Collapsible step bar

ABSTRACT

A collapsible step bar comprising a step bar body, a bracket, a first link, a second link and a pin is provided. The step bar body comprises a first axis and a second axis in a front end. The bracket is disposed adjacent the step bar body. The first link comprises a first end and a second end, and the second link comprises a first end and a second end respectively. Both the first ends of the first link and the second link are pivotably disposed on the bracket, and both the second ends of the first link and the second link are pivotably disposed on the first axis and the second axis of the step bar body respectively. The pin is disposed on a hinge joint between the bracket and the first link for control of a rotation of the first link, which makes the step bar body in a closed state or an open state.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/910,196, filed Nov. 29, 2013, which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present technology relates to a step bar, and more particularly, toa collapsible step bar for a vehicle.

2. Descriptions of the Related Art

Vehicles such as motorcycles and tricycles are usually equipped withstep bars for the passenger below the rear seat. Traditional vehicleshave their step bars integrally formed on the chassis in considerationof cost-efficiency. However, these step bars are usually not allowed tobe formed ergonomically.

An alternative design is to have the step bars pivotably fixed to theframe of a vehicle. Such design may allow the placement of the step barsat a more ergonomic position on the vehicle. However, conventionalcollapsible step bars are of a “single-axis” structure which requires areserved space in front of an axis so as to allow the step bars' torotate to an “open state.” As a result, it is impossible for the chassisof the vehicle and the step bar (in a closed state) to form together anintegral and smooth appearance. Further, the conventional “single-axis”structure has weaker structural strength.

Accordingly, there is still a need in the art to provide a step barwhich allows smooth integration into the overall appearance of a vehicleand at the meantime has an improved structural strength.

SUMMARY

The present technology provides a step bar comprising a step bar body, abracket, a first link, a second link, and a pin. The step bar bodycomprises a first axis and a second axis in a front end thereof Thebracket is disposed adjacent to the step bar body. The first linkcomprises a first end and a second end; the second link also comprises afirst end and a second end. Both the first ends of the first link andthe second link are pivotably disposed on the bracket, and both thesecond ends of the first link and the second link are pivotably disposedon the first axis and the second axis of the step bar body respectively.The pin is disposed on a hinge joint between the bracket and the firstlink for control of a rotation of the first link, which makes the stepbar body in a closed state or an open state.

In certain preferred embodiments of the present technology, the step barfurther comprises a first spring disposed on the pin for providing aforce for the rotation. In certain embodiments, the step bar of thepresent technology further comprises a locking member operably disposedon the pin. When the locking member is in a first position, it isadapted to restrict the rotation of the pin. When the locking member isin a second position, it is adapted to allow the rotation of the pin asdriven by the first spring.

In one embodiment of the present technology, the locking membercomprises a trough hole for receiving a locking end of the pin. Thethrough hole has a round end and a rectangular end. The locking end ofthe pin has a rectangular cross-sectional shape corresponding to therectangular end of the through hole. Accordingly, when the lockingmember is in the first position, the locking end is received in therectangular end of the through hole. When the locking member is in thesecond position, the locking end is received in the round end of thethrough hole. In one further embodiment, the step bar further comprisesa contraction member and a second spring to control whether the lockingmember is in the first or the second position. In one still furtherembodiment, the step bar further comprises a case for accommodating thecontraction member and the second spring.

According to another embodiment of the present technology, the step barmay further comprise a damper disposed on the pin, for control of theopening speed of the step bar body.

The detailed and preferred embodiments implemented for the presenttechnology are described in the following paragraphs accompanying theappended drawings for people skilled in the relevant art to wellappreciate the features of the claimed technology.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a step bar of the presenttechnology in a closed state;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a step bar of the presenttechnology in an open state;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the step bar of FIG. 1 taken alongline A-A;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3 (stepbar in closed state);

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 3 (stepbar in open state); and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the step bar of FIG. 1 taken alongline C-C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a step bar 100 of the present technology isprovided. The step bar 100 comprises a step bar body 110, a bracket 120,a first link 130, a second link 140, and a pin 150.

Specifically, the step bar body 110 is configured with a first axis 112and a second axis 114 at a front end thereof, and the bracket 120 isdisposed adjacent to the step bar body 110. The first link 130 has afirst end 132 and a second end 134, and similarly, the second link 140has a first end 142 and a second end 144 (shown in FIG. 2). The firstend 132 of the first link 130 and the first end 142 of the second link140 are pivotably disposed on the bracket 120. On the other hand, thesecond end 134 of the first link 130 and the second end 144 of thesecond link 140 are pivotably disposed on the first axis 112 and thesecond axis 114 of the step bar body 110 respectively. Further, the pin150 is disposed on a hinge joint between the bracket 120 and the firstlink 130, for control of a rotation of the first link 130, which makesthe step bar body 110 in a closed state as shown in FIG. 1 or an openstate as shown in FIG. 2.

With reference to both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in one preferred embodiment ofthe present technology, a first spring 160 is disposed on the pin 150for providing a torsion force for the rotation of the first link 130.Accordingly, when the pin 150 is driven by the first spring 160, thefirst link 130 is driven by the pin 150 to rotate with respect to thepin 150 clockwise toward the second axis 114 by a certain angle, andthereby the step bar body 110 can transform from the closed state ofFIG. 1 to the open state of FIG. 2, allowing a passenger to place feetthereon.

Please refer to FIG. 3 showing a cross-sectional view of the step bar100 taken along line A-A of FIG. 1. To control the transformation of thestep bar body 110 from the closed state to the open state through acentral control system (not shown), a locking member 170 is disposedbelow the step bar body 110, the bracket 120, the first link 130, andthe second link 140, such that the locking member 170 is operablydisposed on the pin 150. When the locking member 170 is in a firstposition as shown in FIG. 4, it is adapted to restrict the rotation ofthe pin 150. When the locking member 170 is in a second position asshown in FIG. 5, it is adapted to allow the rotation of the pin 150 asdriven by the first spring 190, to rotate the first link 130 and thus totransform the step bar body 110 from the closed state to the open state.

The relationship between the locking member 170 and the pin 150 will befurther described below.

Referring to both FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in certain preferred embodiments ofthe present technology, the locking member 170 comprises a through hole172 for receiving a locking end 152 of the pin 150. The though hole 172and the locking end 152 are adapted to restrict the rotation of the pin150 when the locking member 170 is in the first position. In oneembodiment, the through hole 172 has a round end 174 and a rectangularend 176. The locking end 152 of the pin 150 has a substantiallyrectangular cross-sectional shape corresponding to the rectangular end176 of the through hole 172, such that when the locking member 170 is inthe first position as shown in FIG. 4, the locking end 152 is receivedin the rectangular end 176 and thus the rotation of the pin 150 isrestricted. When the locking member 170 is displaced by a force (e.g.,to the right) to the second position as shown in FIG. 5, the locking end152 is received in the round end 174, allowing the rotation of the pin150 as driven by the first spring 190, rotating the first link 130 by acertain degree and thus transforming the step bar body 110 from theclosed state to the open state.

In addition, the step bar 100 may further comprise a contraction member180 and a second spring 190 to control whether the locking member 170 isin the first or the second position. The contraction member 180 mayreceive a signal from a central control system (not shown) and provide aforce to displace the locking member 170 (e.g., to the right) to thesecond position as shown in FIG. 5. The contraction member 180 ispreferably a wire rope, but is not limited thereto. The second spring190 is disposed between the locking member 170 and the bracket 120 forproviding, oppositely to the contraction member 180, a force pushing thelocking member (e.g., to the left) to the first position as shown inFIG. 4. A case 200 may be further included for accommodating thecontraction member 180 and the second spring 190.

Please refer to FIG. 1 again as well as FIG. 6 showing a cross-sectionalview of the step bar 100 taken along line C-C of FIG. 1. The step bar100 may further comprise a damper 154 dispose on the pin 150.Accordingly, when the locking end 152 of the pin 150 is received in theround end 174, it allows the rotation of the pin 150 as driven by thefirst spring 160. The damper 154 can make the rotation of the pin 150slow down, and thereby control the opening speed of the step bar body110.

The step bar 100 of the present technology comprise a four-linkstructure consisting of the step bar body 110, the bracket 120, thefirst link 130 and the second link 140, providing improved structuralstrength as compared to a conventional collapsible step bar.Furthermore, with the above-mentioned four-link structure, the step barbody 110 can be fully and smoothly integrated into the overallappearance of a vehicle when collapsed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A step bar, comprising: a step bar bodycomprising a first axis and a second axis in a front end thereof; abracket disposed adjacent the step bar body; a first link having a firstend and a second end, and a second link having a first end and a secondend, both the first ends being pivotably disposed on the bracket and thesecond ends of the first and second link are pivotably disposed on thefirst axis and the second axis respectively; and a pin disposed on ahinge joint between the bracket and the first link for control of arotation of the first link, which makes the step bar body in a closedstate or an open state.
 2. The step bar of claim 1, further comprising afirst spring disposed on the pin for providing a force for the rotation.3. The step bar of claim 2, further comprising a locking member operablydisposed on the pin, wherein when the locking member is in a firstposition, it is adapted to restrict the rotation of the pin; and whenthe locking member is in a second position, it is adapted to allow therotation of the pin as driven by the first spring.
 4. The step bar ofclaim 3, wherein the locking member comprises a trough hole forreceiving a locking end of the pin, the through hole being having around end and a rectangular end, and the locking end of the pin beinghaving a rectangular cross-sectional shape corresponding to therectangular end of the through hole, wherein when the locking member isin the first position, the locking end is received in the rectangularend; and when the locking member is in the second position, the lockingend is received in the round end.
 5. The step bar of claim 4, furthercomprising a contraction member and a second spring for control whetherthe locking member is in the first or the second position.
 6. The stepbar of claim 5, further comprising a case for accommodating thecontraction member and the second spring.
 7. The step bar of claim 1,further comprising a damper disposed on the pin.